Scottish Government publishes Democracy Matters consultation response
/This article was featured in the SCDC Weekly - 25th September 2024.
The Scottish Government have published their analysis of the Democracy Matters 2 consultation, which explored what new decision-making powers for communities could look like, and how potential new decision-making bodies might work.
The main findings from the consultation are centred around the need for any new community decision-making structures to be flexible and responsive, and able to influence decisions and services in a meaningful way.
Ensuring these new bodies are representative of their community, and that they are accountable and transparent was also considered important. Decisions should be made in ways that are participative and accessible.
Importantly, respondents set out how any new decision-making body should have an independent, sustainable budget - and that community capacity building to develop skills, knowledge and confidence and was vital.
SCDC and others have previously called for new legislation to bring forward these changes, and in a joint statement the Scottish Government and COSLA have outlined that there will be "work towards an implementation phase early in the next Parliament, including the consideration of the need for any essential legislation".
We look forward to hearing more about what concrete changes will result from this consultation – and the new powers communities could be afforded.
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